Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-05-11
CITY COUNCIL.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN

MT. bryant, ITOm Inc committee on
Streets, reported On sundry matters which
had been referred to them, which reports
were adopted, and no further business ap-
pearing u recess was declared, which lasted
over an hour.
Upon being called to order some business
which had been tranacted by the Common
Council was received from that board, most
of which was concurred in The report OF
the Committee on Public Property, how
ever, on the petition of the American Coal
Co, for repairs to the wharf leased to them
by the corporation the American company
having sublet the same to Messrs. w. A.
Smoot 4 Co.., was non.concurred in, and
the matter laid over.
Mr. Burke said this wharf had been leased
10y the American Coal Company upon which
TO store coal. They had now abandoned
the property, and sublet it, and petition
The city to repair the wharf that it may be
easily rented. He did not think it obliga.
tory on the city to do any such thing. 1t
had been abandoned by the lessees, allowed
TO gel out of repair, and finally snbleJ to
other parties and for other purposes than
The shipment ofcoal. The speaker did not
think Council should be subject to the
orders of the American Coal Company.
The board at ten o'clock adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Nine members of the board were present
last night when Mr.. Isaac Eichberg took
the chair, and several members afterwards
came in.
The reference to the Corporation Attor.
uey of proposal to sell lot on Payne
street held under ground rent and also by
tax title by the city had brought in report
of the Attorney in favor of a suit to clear the
title. This led to considerable discussion.
II was stated that the property is in the
possession of tenant by name of Montjoy,
who is willing to buy it, but that it was sold
by the city to L. d. Harrison on q ground
rent oil $l2 per annum, but that neither the
taxes nor ground rent were paid and the
clty bid in the lot at tax sale. The clerk
said that the cost of the suit would be $25,
aud that he lot would sell for from $3.50 to
500 The matter was passed by without
action.
When the grant of $50 worth of gas free
to the Young Mems Christian Association
was called up,
Mr.. Snowden seid he felt constrained to
oppose the appropriation out of money con-
trbuteCi only by the gas consumers. He
had the kindiest feelings for the Christian
Association, and all others which tended to
the moral Improvement Of men, but the
churches were doing the same thing, and
certainly Council would not be willing to
give gas free to the churches, nor would they
ask for it.
Others favored the grant of gas as agreed
upon by the Aldermen.
After the vote had been taken
Mr.. Snowden asked whether nine votes
were required to pass the resolution.
The chair, at first, thought that less than
a foil majority could pass the resolution,
hut his attention having been called to the
fact that il involved al appropriation, be
decided that nine votes would be needed.
A rising vote stood ayes 6, noes 5, aud the
resolution was declared lest.
The subject of the lease of Messrs. W. A.
Smoot & Co. of the American coal wharf
again came up.
Mr.. Snowden favored the lease. The only
new thing he saw about the matter was that
the Midland road managers had been asked
if the company wanted to lease these
wharves aud had replied in the negative.
He was sure that even if the amount offer
ed was less than the former rent, it freed
the city from the Obligation TO repair; and
the new trade likely to be brought here
would more than compensate for any differ
ence in the rate OF rent.
Mr.. Sweeney discussed the matter at
length, and conteuded that it would be I'M
proper, in view of the prospects OF the III
ture, to tie up the property for twelve years
At the rent proposed,
Mr.. Peake said that about 81 500 would
have to be put on the wharves this year II
this lease was not made. Next year more
might be required He thought that there
fore the city would do we'll to accept the
proposition of Mr.. Smoot.
MIR. Sweeney would like members OF
Council to see the lease between the Amer
lean Coal Co. aud the city before acting up
en- this matter. 1t would probably be found
that the American Goa! Co. was obligated
to return the wharf to the city il the same
order in which they received it,
Mr.. Sweeney saw nothing IN what had
been said 10 induce him to vote for the prop
u>ition He thought Smoot Il CO. had one
Of The best places in the country, and ne
did not think they would move away. 1t
might be policy for the American Coal 20.
to offer tie city compromise and surrender
the lease The city had kept faith with
them. If they surrendered the lease with
proper payment, then the city might offer
1t at public lease.
President E;chberg (Mr. Peake in the
chair thought the City Council had no
right TO commit the city to lease to begin
two years ahead aud then run ten years.
The city had now tenant, and there was
no need of acting on lease that had not
expired He was willing that the lease
should be made with proviso that there
shall be no subleting without the consent
of the City Council.
Mr.. Snowden said he had no objection to
the Incorporation of proviso against sub
letting in the lease TO be made to Smoot y
Co.
Mr.. Aitcheson thought that if the city
made the lease, then she could not hamper
the lessee. The city wanted the most mo-
ney it could get The proper method would
be to get the money for the next two year
lease, aud then when the lease expires offer
it for public lease to the highest bidder.
The debate was contioued by Mr.. Peake
ana Mr. Fisher, the latter OF whom thought
tbaf he Ioo,a 10 m American Coal Com ma